Volleyball adds former HS National Player of the Year

[PonyPride]

The SMU volleyball has signed setter Averi Carlson as a transfer from the University of Texas (after two years at Baylor). The 5-11 Carlson appeared in 25 matches last season at UT, starting 19. and led the Longhorns with 787 assists — nearly triple the second-highest total on the team.

From her texassports.com bio:

PRIOR TO TEXAS (BAYLOR)
Two-year starting setter at Baylor in 2022 and 2023…2023 AVCA All-Southwest Region First Team and All-Big 12 Second Team as a sophomore…2023 CSC Academic All-District and Academic All-Big 12 First Team…2022 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and AVCA Southwest Region Freshman of the Year…2022 All-Big 12 First Team and All-Big 12 Freshman Team…played in 62 career matches and 231 total sets for the Bears…in her two-year career, had 2,446 assists (10.59 per set), 67 career service aces, 474 digs and 60 total blocks…her 2,446 assists in two season rank fifth for career assists in the rally-scoring era at Baylor…led the team to the NCAA Regional Semifinals as a freshman in 2022…dished out a career-high 60 assists at SMU on Sept. 6, 2023…posted 18 career double-doubles, including 10 as a sophomore in 2023.

HIGH SCHOOL
2021-22 Gatorade National Volleyball Player of the Year…2021 Gatorade Texas Volleyball Player of the Year…ranked as the No. 4 player in her class by PrepVolleyball.com and named the top setter of the 2022 class...played club volleyball for Skyline Juniors in Dallas...graduated from Lovejoy High School, earning letters all four years for volleyball...helped lead her team to state runner-up finish in 2018, then won three-straight state championships in 2019, 2020 and 2021...amassed 4,416 career assists at nine assists per set with 1,121 digs, 479 kills and 206 aces in her career...invited to the 2022 Under Armour All-American Match ... A four-time All-American ... Part of the USA Volleyball U20 National Training Team, where they placed fifth in the U20 Women's World Championship.